Aspects of Alfrick – Open Gardens

Sunday 4 July 2021 from 11.00 – 6.00pm

We are pleased to be running the 9^th Aspects of Alfrick on Sunday 4 July 2021 from 11.00 – 6.00pm. This event will be in accordance with the current restrictions.14 wonderful private gardens will be open for the public to enjoy – from small gardens to a magnificent National Garden Scheme ‘Yellow Book’ garden – our gardens include woodland, small areas, stream and brook, Cottage garden and more. Due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic all visitors should socially distance 2 metres. Gardens may have restricted numbers and owners may ask visitors to wear a mask, particularly in smaller gardens. We would ask all visitors to follow the Owners requests. The event is centred around Alfrick and Lulsley Village Hall, where locally sourced ploughman’s rolls and afternoon tea and homemade cakes will be served outside (subject to COVID 19 restrictions). There will also be a raffle and, subject to weather, a garden and food bookstall.

Tickets to enter all gardens are £5 and these can be purchased from the Village Hall (or at any garden). All gardens will be clearly marked.

The gardens are spread across Alfrick and surrounds and a map (as your ticket) is provided.

This community event has raised over £12,000 in previous years which has been donated to various charities. This year profits will be split between Age UK and Alfrick and Lulsley Village Hall.

Quotes from Bridget Lewis, Organiser:

“I am delighted to announce that this year we have 3 brand new gardens”.

“Our ‘open gardeners’ are proud to open to visitors to enjoy their gardens and hope you enjoy all their hard ‘lock-down’ work!”

For further information please do not hesitate to contact me, Bridget on 01886 832659.

The 2019 event again was very successful, read the organisers report

The Sphere Magazine

To download a copy of the Sphere click on the links below

March 2021 click for a PDF version or here for a flip book version

February 2021 click for a PDF version or here for a flip book version

December 2020 click for a PDF version or here for a flip book version

November 2020 click for a PDF version or here for a flip book version

October 2020 click for a PDF version or here for a flip book version

This is a fund of local information and items of interest from our local villages: Alfrick with Lulsley, Suckley and Longley Green, and Leigh and Bransford including Leigh Sinton. Dates for forthcoming events at the local village halls can be found together with some from further afield. Local organisations’ regular activities are also featured such as schools, scouts and guides, Citizen Advice, art groups, the local historical society, WIs, the Community Shop and Café and local Parish Council updates. Church services and activities are included, together with a monthly missive from the team vicar.

The magazine includes over 100 advertisers (currently with a waiting list) representing dog walkers to drone services; electricians, plumbers, chimney sweeps and builders.

Local hotels, restaurants and caterers are featured, together with pest controllers, washing machine and electrical goods’ repairers plus sewing services. Altogether, there

is a whole gamut of useful contacts for those jobs which need doing professionally. The circulation of the magazine is currently about 750.

The Sphere Magazine: The Future

The Sphere is edited and usually printed, collated, and distributed by a small group of willing volunteers. This process has worked well over the years, until the present

pandemic, since when it has not been possible to produce paper copies in our usual way. Hence, digital publishing options have been explored and since June 2020 the

magazine has been posted on the parish community website at:

www.alfrickandlulsley.org/community or copies can be emailed to subscribers.

It has now been decided that from the Easter (April) 2021 edition the magazine will be printed professionally for us, rather than reverting to production in the vestry of Alfrick

Church (even if open by then). This will of course be dependent on any Covid requirements and the ability (and willingness) of the veritable ‘army’ of volunteers who

deliver the monthly copies to individual households.

There is, of course, an inevitable downside in that professional production costs more than our amateur efforts, however, we hope you will agree the magazine will still provide excellent value for money. The price of an annual subscription will therefore be increased from £5.00 to £6.00 per annum, whether received as a printed copy through your letterbox, or by email. Postal subscriptions can be arranged at £23.00pa (postage has significantly increased recently) or spare copies are usually available in the village churches free, or for £1.00 per copy in Alfrick Village Shop. Annual subscriptions will be

requested, and collected by distributors, during the summer of 2021.

David and Geoff

New subscribers are always welcome and if you would like to subscribe then please

contact: David Fowler, tel: 01886 884690; email dwfowlerosh@gmail.com